Calvin Johnston's secret is out. He and his brothers are tainted. Untouchable. And the bad blood flowing through their veins is threatening to kill them. So are some of their neighbors in Ashland, the "Friendliest Little Town" in Florida. The Johnston brothers are kicked out of everything-school, baseball, scouts, even church. Ashland's anger has erupted into a fireball of hate. The only silver lining is that Calvin's best friend Izzy lives 65 miles away at the beach, and has no idea about his secret. But news has a way of spreading. Calvin and his brothers are in the fight of their lives. As a matter of fact, they're fighting for life itself.
“Blood Brothers Playlist.” Author’s note. Timeline of the first decade of AIDS in America. “Ryan White and the Ray Brothers.” “HIV and AIDS in the USA Today.”
Topics AIDS in children. Hemophilia. Blood transfusion. Diseases, illnesses, and injuries. Brothers. Friendship. Discrimination and prejudice. Florida. 1980s.
Lexile HL340L
Trim Size 5 1/2" x 7 1/2"
JLG Span Spring
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2022-07-30
JLG Release Date Mar 2023
Minimum grade 6
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus
Upper Middle School Fiction Plus (Grades 6-8)
For Grades 6-8
This collection features fiction titles selected for older middle school readers who are ready for longer, more layered stories that explore growing independence and changing perspective. Selections include realistic and speculative fiction with increased emotional and narrative complexity, offering stories that look beyond immediate experience and invite readers to engage with broader questions about identity, belonging, and the world around them.